Great DB playing by Danny Thompson

[Clarky]

Not everyone's cup of tea I know but the debut solo album from ex-Japan frontman David Sylvian (from 1986 IIRC) features some really superb DB playing by Danny Thompson.

Particular fave is "Ink in the well". Some fantastic, rich woody DB playing with great (clearly intended) E string buzzing against the board and very propulsive fills. The sort of thing I imagine Scott LaFaro would have been playing had he not been killed so tragically young.

[ezbass]

I bought that album on vinyl back in the 80s and really loved the DB playing on it. I had no idea who Danny Thompson was then, makes complete sense now though. Yeah Ink In The Well is a great track, shame I have no means of playing vinyl these days as it would be on a turntable now.

[phagor]

Spotify to the rescue!

[url="http://open.spotify.com/album/6S6k7jxZEZBwUs0NRMFKoi"]http://open.spotify.com/album/6S6k7jxZEZBwUs0NRMFKoi[/url]

OK, probably won't sound as good as your vinyl copy. But Danny's playing still sounds very tasty, good call Clarky.

[99ster]

[quote name='phagor' post='625880' date='Oct 14 2009, 12:07 PM']Spotify to the rescue!

[url="http://open.spotify.com/album/6S6k7jxZEZBwUs0NRMFKoi"]http://open.spotify.com/album/6S6k7jxZEZBwUs0NRMFKoi[/url]

OK, probably won't sound as good as your vinyl copy. But Danny's playing still sounds very tasty, good call Clarky.[/quote]


Thanks for that link - I used to play that album to death. Awesome, awesome bass playing. It don't get much better than Mr Thompson - the man is a national treasure!

PS - and Steve Jansen's drumming is pretty good too!

Edited October 14, 2009 by 99ster

[RhysP]

Danny Thompson is a f***ing legend!!
His playing with Pentangle & John Martyn was just sublime.

[BigBeatNut]

18 seconds into Ink in the Well ... me likey ....want to hear some more

[Cairobill]

Thompson's playing is a great inspiration to me...love it...his playing (alongside Eberhard Weber) on Hounds of Love by Kate Bush is just the greatest pop upright playing imaginable. Awesome...the bass is almost a lead instrument on these tracks, but he doesn't overdo it.

Jaco's playing on Hejira inhabits the same space - lyrical, melodic, emotional and just f**ing far out...

Nick

[lonestar]

Check out David Sylvian's album Secrets of The Behive for more Danny Thompson Loveliness plus Mark Isham on trumpet, especially the track Orpheus.

[ezbass]

[quote name='phagor' post='625880' date='Oct 14 2009, 12:07 PM']Spotify to the rescue!

[url="http://open.spotify.com/album/6S6k7jxZEZBwUs0NRMFKoi"]http://open.spotify.com/album/6S6k7jxZEZBwUs0NRMFKoi[/url]

OK, probably won't sound as good as your vinyl copy. But Danny's playing still sounds very tasty, good call Clarky.[/quote]


Link not working for me

[ezbass]

Got me an invite to Spotify (thanks Bythesea) and I've just been bathing in the delightful upright playing of Mr Thompson on the aforementioned Ink In The Well. What a great playing on a great song, it brought back memories of when I first heard it Brighton back in the mid 80s. If memory serves my car got broken into that day and I had a load of stuff nicked including my fluorescent pink shoes and matching belt (it was the 80s remember) :wacko:

[acidbass]

'Red Guitar' definitely has echoes of 'Portrait of Tracy' in the bass playing.

Cool album, thanks for the heads-up!

[Andyalfa]

I just got me a copy of this album and I concurr, Ink in the Well is Awesome. Hoever, Danny is only credited as playing on that one track. Might be better to download just that tune, if that's what you're getting the album for. That said, the rest of it is pretty good anyway. David Sylvian has one hell of a voice.